Ultrasound imaging system

ABSTRACT

An ultrasound imaging system includes a probe with a transducer array with at least one transducer element that transmits ultrasound signal and receives echo signals produced in response thereto. The system further includes a console with a controller that controls the at least one element to transmit the ultrasound signals and receive the echo signals, and an echo processor that processes the received echoes and generates images indicative thereof. The system further includes a user interface with at least one control for interacting with the console. The user interface includes at least one recessed physical feature that facilitates identifying, through sense of touch, an operation activated by the at least one control.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The following generally relates to an ultrasound imaging system.

BACKGROUND

An ultrasound (US) imaging system has included an ultrasound probe witha transducer, a console with an internal or external display, and akeyboard. The transducer transmits an ultrasound signal into a field ofview and receives echoes produced in response to the signal interactingwith structure therein. The echoes are processed by the console, whichgenerates images indicative of the structure that are visually presentedin the display region.

An example of a suitable display region includes a screen (e.g., LCD,CRT, etc.) with a cover lens (e.g. made of glass). The cover lensprovides a surface that is relatively easy to clean. Shattering of thecover lens can be mitigated through a bonding material applied betweenthe cover lens and the screen. However, the cover lens adds at least twosurface transitions, an air to cover lens transition and a cover lens toair transition. Unfortunately, both the air to cover lens transition andthe cover lens to air transition produce reflections, which maydeteriorate the optical perception of the visually presented image.Furthermore, the distance between the touch screen display and the coverlens may result in a parallax that decreases the accuracy of activationof the individual buttons on the touch screen display.

An example of a suitable keyboard includes a keyboard with a coherent,flat surface, without any holes, for example, a “touch screen” displaywith a cover lens. Unfortunately, the distance between the cover lensand the screen may deteriorate the optical perception of the visuallypresented image and may result in a parallax that decreases the accuracyof activation of the individual buttons on the “touch screen” display.Likewise, the cover lens provides a surface that is relatively easy toclean. Unfortunately, with such a keyboard, it may not be easy for aclinician to navigate an image while observing the image without lookingaway from the image in the display region and looking at the keyboard tolocate and activate touch screen controls.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the application address the above matters, and others.

In one aspect, an ultrasound imaging system includes a probe with atransducer array with at least one transducer element that transmitsultrasound signal and receives echo signals produced in responsethereto. The system further includes a console with a controller thatcontrols the at least one element to transmit the ultrasound signals andreceive the echo signals and an echo processor that processes thereceived echoes and generates images indicative thereof. The systemfurther includes a user interface with at least one control forinteracting with the console. The user interface includes at least onerecessed physical feature that facilitates identifying, through sense oftouch, an operation activated by the at least one control.

In another aspect, an ultrasound imaging system includes a probe with atransducer array with at least one transducer element that transmitsultrasound signal and receives echo signals produced in responsethereto. The system further includes a console with a controller thatcontrols the at least one element to transmit the ultrasound signals andreceive the echo signals and an echo processor that processes thereceived echoes and generates images indicative thereof. The systemfurther includes a display region with a screen, a cover lens and anoptical coupling there between. A refractive index of the opticalcoupling is approximately the same of a refractive index of the coverlens and a refractive index of the screen.

In another aspect, a method includes providing an ultrasound console,interfacing a user interface with the ultrasound console, interfacing adisplay region with the ultrasound console and interfacing a transducerprobe with the ultrasound console, and using the transducer probe toscan an object or subject under control of the console, wherein anoperator of the system controls at least one operation via the userinterface and generated images are displayed via the display region. Theuser interface includes at least one control for interacting with theconsole, wherein the user interface includes at least one recessedphysical feature that facilitates identifying, through sense of touch,an operation activated by the at least one control, and the displayregion includes a screen, a cover lens and an optical coupling therebetween, wherein a refractive index of the optical coupling isapproximately the same of a refractive index of the cover lens and arefractive index of the screen.

Those skilled in the art will recognize still other aspects of thepresent application upon reading and understanding the attacheddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The application is illustrated by way of example and not limitation inthe figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like referencesindicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example imaging system, including auser interface and a display region;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of the user interface, which includes atleast one control of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a first recessed control of the userinterface of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a second recessed control of the userinterface of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a third recessed control of the userinterface of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 illustrates the user interface of FIG. 2, with the controls ofFIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of the display region of FIG. 1 with acover lens optically bonded to a screen and external light traversingthe display region;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example of the display region of FIG. 1 with acover lens optically bonded to a screen with light emitted by the screenand traversing the display region;

FIG. 9 illustrates a variation of the display region of FIG. 7 with theoptical bond omitted therefrom;

FIG. 10 illustrates a variation of the display region of FIG. 8 with theoptical bond omitted therefrom; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an example method in accordance with the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an ultrasound (US) imaging system 102.

The system 102 includes a probe 104 with a one-dimensional (1D) ortwo-dimensional (2D) transducer array 106 with at least one transducerelement 108. Suitable configurations include, but are not limited to,linear, curved (e.g., concave, convex, etc.), circular, etc.

The system 102 includes an ultrasound scanner console 110 that controlsexcitation of the probe 104, receives and processes ultrasound data fromthe probe 104, and generates images to display.

The system 102 includes a user interface 112 with at least one controlfor interacting with the console 110. As described in greater detailbelow, in one non-limiting instance, the user interface 122 includes atleast one recessed physical feature that facilitates identifying,through sense of touch (or haptics), an operation activated by the atleast one control.

The system 102 includes at least one display region 114 that displaysimages generated by the console 110. As described in greater detailbelow, in one non-limiting instance, the display region 124 includes ascreen with a cover lens optically bonded thereto, which may improveimage quality relative to a configuration in which the optical bondingis omitted.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top down view looking into an example of the userinterface 122.

The illustrated user interface 122 includes a flat touch panel 202, inwhich predetermined regions thereof evoke actions in response to beingactuated by simple or multi-touch gestures of the screen with one ormore fingers, a stylus, a glove, etc. Suitable touchscreen panelsincludes, but are not limited to, resistive, projected capacitive,surface acoustic wave, infrared, optical, or piezoelectric.

The touchscreen can be, but is not limited to, a screen (e.g., liquidcrystal display (LCD), thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFTLCD), organic light-emitting diode (OLED) etc.) with a cover lens (e.g.made of glass) optically bonded thereto, which may mitigate parallaxrelative to a configuration in which the optical bonding is omitted.

The illustrated touch panel 202 further includes a plurality of touchsensitive controls 204. In the illustrated example, the touch sensitivecontrols 204 include N sets of controls 206 ₁, 206 ₂, . . . , 206 _(N),collectively referred to herein as sets of controls 206, where N is aninteger equal to or greater than one.

The first set of controls 206 ₁ includes M controls 208 ₁, . . . , 208_(M), (collectively referred to as controls 208), where M is an integerequal to or greater than one. The second set of controls 206 ₂ includesL controls 210 ₁, . . . , 210 _(L), (collectively referred to ascontrols 210), where L is an integer equal to or greater than one. Thethird set of controls 206 _(N) includes K controls 212 ₁, . . . , 212_(K), (collectively referred to as controls 212), where K is an integerequal to or greater than one.

As described herein, the user interface 122 includes at least onerecessed physical feature that facilitates identifying, through sense oftouch, an operation activated by the N sets of controls 206 ₁, 206 ₂, .. . , 206 _(N). With respect to FIG. 2, the user interface 122 includesa recessed physical feature in connection with each of the of touchsensitive controls 204. This is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 3, 4and 5 respectively in connection with the N sets of controls 206 ₁, 206₂, . . . , 206 _(N).

Initially referring to FIG. 3, a cross sectional view of the touch panel202 and the control 208 ₁ along line A-A of FIG. 2 is illustrated.

The touch panel 202 has a thickness 302 and a major surface 304. Thecontrol 208 ₁ has a thickness 306 (which is less than the thickness 302of the touch panel 202), a flat recess surface 308 and a diameter 310,and is located in a recess 312 in the major surface 304. A transitionsurface 314 extends from the major surface 304 into the touch panel 202to the flat recess surface 308, forming the recess 312.

With the configuration of FIG. 3, the at least one recessed physicalfeature includes the transition surface 314 and the flat recess surface308. The transition surface 314 and the flat recess surface 308facilitate identifying a location of the control 208 ₁ and the flatrecess surface 308 identifies the control 208 ₁. For example, in theillustrated embodiment, the transition surface 314 and the flat recesssurface 308 facilitates identifying the control 208 ₁ as a touch padarea. As discussed herein, the touch pad area can be used to control acursor displayed in the display region 124, for example, cursormovement.

Turning to FIG. 4, a cross sectional view of the touch panel 202 and thecontrol 210 ₁ along line B-B of FIG. 2 is illustrated. Again, the touchpanel 202 has the thickness 302 and the major surface 304.

The control 210 ₁ includes a first recess 402, which is located in themajor surface 304, and a second recess 404, which is located in thefirst recess 402. The first recess 402 has a first thickness 406 (whichis less than the thickness 302 of the touch panel 202), a first recesssurface 408, and a first protrusion 410. The second recess 404 has asecond thickness 412 (which is less than the first thickness 406 of thefirst recess 402) and a second recess surface 414.

A first transition 416 extends from the major surface 304 into the touchpanel 202 to the first recess surface 408, forming the first recess 402.The protrusion 410 is located in the first recess 402, spaced apart fromthe first transition surfaces 416 by a non-zero distance. A secondtransition surface 418 extends from the first recess 402 further intothe touch panel 202 to the second recess surface 414, forming the secondrecess 404.

With the configuration of FIG. 4, the at least one recessed physicalfeature includes the first transition 416 and the protrusion 410, whichfacilitate identifying a location of a first sub-control of the control210 ₁ and, in particular, a rotary or other control, which is located inthe first recess 402, between the first transition 416 and theprotrusion 410. The rotary control is actuated by sliding an object onthe first recess surface 408.

The at least one recessed physical feature further includes the secondtransition 418, which facilitates identifying a location of a secondsub-control of the control 210 ₁ and, in particular, a push button orother control, which is located in the second recess 404, within thesecond transition 418. The push button control is actuated by pushingdown on the second recess surface 414.

The illustrated control 210 ₁ is a multi-function control. Theillustrated control 210 ₁ includes two sub-controls; however, in anotherembodiment, the control 210 ₁ includes more than two sub-controls.

Next at FIG. 5, a cross sectional view of the touch panel 202 and thecontrol 212 ₁ along line C-C of FIG. 2 is illustrated. Again, the touchpanel 202 has the thickness 302 and the major surface 304.

The control 212 ₁ includes a first recess 502, which is located in themajor surface 304, and a second recess 504, which is located in thefirst recess 502. The first recess 502 has a first thickness 506 (whichis less than the thickness 302 of the touch panel 202) and a firstrecess surface 508, and the second recess 504 has a second thickness 510(which is less than the first thickness 506 of the first recess 502) anda second recess surface 512.

A first transition 514 s extend from the major surface 304 into thetouch panel 202 to the first recess surface 508, forming the firstrecess 502. A second transition surface 516 extends from the firstrecess 502 further into the touch panel 202 to the second recess surface512, forming the second recess 504.

With the configuration of FIG. 5, the at least one recessed physicalfeature includes the first transition 514, the first recess surface 508,the second transition 516, and the second recess surface 512 of thesecond recess 504, which facilitate identifying a location of thecontrol 212 ₁ and, in particular, a push button or other control, whichis located in the second recess 504, within the second transition 516.The push button control is actuated by pushing down on the second recesssurface 512.

FIG. 6 illustrates the top down view of FIG. 2, in which the N sets ofcontrols 206 ₁, 206 ₂, . . . , 206 _(N) are configured as discussed inconnection with FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. However, it is to be appreciated thatthe sets of controls 206 ₁, 206 ₂, . . . , 206 _(N) can include more orless controls and/or similar or different controls. Furthermore, theillustrated geometry of the controls in non-limiting. For example, othershapes (e.g., elliptical, rectangular, etc.) and/or relative sizes arecontemplated herein.

Moreover, the N sets of controls 206 ₁, 206 ₂, . . . , 206 _(N) mayinclude textured surfaces. For example, the rotary or other control ofthe sets of controls 206 ₂ may include roughness, which facilitatessliding a finger along the surface and mitigating having the fingerstick to the surface. Likewise, one of more of the other sets ofcontrols 206 ₁, 206 ₂, . . . , 206 _(N) may or may not have roughness.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an example of the display region 114 of theconsole 110 and/or an example of the user interface 112.

The display region 114 includes a screen 704 with a cover lens 702. Thescreen 704 and the cover lens 702 are coupled via an optical coupling706. The optical coupling 706 has a refractive index that substantiallymatches a refractive index of the screen 704 and the cover lens 702. Forexample, wherein the refractive index of the screen 704 is approximately1.5 and the refractive index of the cover lens 702 is approximately 1.5,a suitable refractive index of the optical coupling 706 is 1.5.

The screen 704 can be a LCD, a TFT-LCD, an OLED, and/or other screen.The material 706 can be a liquid, a gas, a gel, a glue (e.g., silicon orother), a laminate, a plastic, a foil, and/or other optical couplingwith suitable optical properties, that is, for matching the refractiveindex of the screen 704 and/or cover lens 702.

As shown in FIG. 7, external light 708 traverses the cover lens702/optical coupling 706 interface 710 and the optical coupling 706/thescreen 704 interface 712 with no or substantially little reflection. Asshown in FIG. 8, emitted light 802 from the screen 704 traverses thescreen 704/the optical coupling 706 interface 712 and the opticalcoupling 706/the cover lens 702 interface 710 with no or substantiallylittle reflection.

As a result, features visually displayed on the screen 704 and under thecover lens 702 are seen by the user on the cover lens 702 over theactual location of the features visually displayed on the screen 704.This is in contrast to a configuration in which the optical coupling 706is omitted and air resides between the screen 704 and the cover lens702, where the features seen by the user on the cover lens 702 areshifted (parallax) from the actual location of the features visuallydisplayed on the screen 704.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show embodiments in which the optical coupling 706 isomitted. In this embodiment, air 900 is located between the cover lens702 and the screen 704. As shown, external light 902 refracts at thecover lens 702/air 900 interface 904 and off the air 900/the screen 704interface 906. Likewise, emitted light 1002 refracts at the screen704/air 900 interface 906 and at the air 900/the cover lens interface904.

FIG. 11 illustrates a method in accordance with the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

It is to be appreciated that the order of the following acts is providedfor explanatory purposes and is not limiting. As such, one or more ofthe following acts may occur in a different order. Furthermore, one ormore of the following acts may be omitted and/or one or more additionalacts may be added.

At 1102, an ultrasound console is provided.

At 1104, a user interface is interfaced with the ultrasound console. Asdiscussed herein, the user interface includes at least one control forinteracting with the console, wherein the user interface includes atleast one recessed physical feature that facilitates identifying,through sense of touch, an operation activated by the at least onecontrol.

At 1106, a display region is interfaced with the ultrasound console. Asdiscussed herein, the display region includes a screen, a cover lens andan optical coupling there between, wherein a refractive index of theoptical coupling is approximately the same of a refractive index of thecover lens and a refractive index of the screen.

At 1108, a transducer probe is interfaced with the ultrasound console.

At 1110, the transducer probe is used to scan an object or subject undercontrol of the console, wherein an operator of the system controls atleast one operation via the user interface and generated images aredisplayed via the display region.

The application has been described with reference to variousembodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others uponreading the application. It is intended that the invention be construedas including all such modifications and alterations, including insofaras they come within the scope of the appended claims and the equivalentsthereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ultrasound imaging system, comprising: aprobe, including: a transducer array with at least one transducerelement that transmits ultrasound signal and receives echo signalsproduced in response thereto; a console, including: a controller thatcontrols the at least one element to transmit the ultrasound signals andreceive the echo signals, and an echo processor that processes thereceived echoes and generates images indicative thereof; and a userinterface, including a flat touchscreen panel having a planar surface,wherein the flat touchscreen panel is an active touch sensitive area,the active touch sensitive area includes at least two predeterminedregions, each of the at least two predetermined regions includes atleast one control for interacting with the console, wherein each controlis in a recess in the planar surface, and the planar surface, therecess, and the control in the recess contain a same touchscreenmaterial, each of the at least one control controls a differentoperation of the ultrasound imaging system in response to being actuatedby a gesture, and each of the at least two predetermined regionsincludes at least one recessed physical feature in the planar surfacethat facilitates identifying, through sense of touch, an operationactivated by the at least one control, wherein the flat touchscreenpanel is not a frame of a display monitor.
 2. The ultrasound imagingsystem of claim 1, wherein the flat touchscreen panel is one of a liquidcrystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor liquid crystal display(TFT LCD), or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.
 3. Theultrasound imaging system of claim 2, wherein the user interfaceincludes a cover lens optically bonded to an entirety of the flattouchscreen panel.
 4. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, whereina predetermined region of the at least two predetermined regionscomprises: a transition from the planar surface into the flattouchscreen panel, forming the recess; and a first flat recess surfacewithin the recess; wherein the at least one recessed physical featureincludes the transition and the first flat recess surface.
 5. Theultrasound imaging system of claim 4, wherein the first flat recesssurface actuates the at least one control.
 6. The ultrasound imagingsystem of claim 5, wherein the at least one control includes a touch padarea.
 7. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the at leastone recessed physical feature includes a first recess with a first flatrecess surface and a second recess with a second flat recess surface,and the flat touchscreen panel, further comprising: a first transitionfrom the planar surface into the flat touchscreen panel to the firstflat recess surface, forming the first recess; a second transition fromthe first flat recess surface into the flat touchscreen panel to thesecond flat recess surface, forming the second recess, wherein the atleast one recessed physical feature includes the first transition, thefirst flat recess surface, the second transition, and the second flatrecess surface.
 8. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 7, wherein thesecond flat recess surface actuates the at least one control.
 9. Theultrasound imaging system of claim 8, wherein the at least one controlincludes a push button.
 10. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1,wherein the at least one recessed physical feature includes a firstrecess with a first flat recess surface and a protrusion and a secondrecess with a second flat recess surface, and the flat touchscreenpanel, further comprising: a first transition from the planar surfaceinto the flat touchscreen panel to the first flat recess surface,forming the first recess, wherein the protrusion is spaced apart fromthe first transition by a non-zero distance; a second transition fromthe first flat recess surface into the flat touchscreen panel to thesecond flat recess surface, forming the second recess, wherein the atleast one recessed physical feature includes at least two recessedphysical features, a first of the at least two recessed physicalfeatures including the first transition, the first flat recess surfaceand the protrusion, and a second of the at least two recessed physicalfeatures including the second transition and the second flat recesssurface.
 11. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 10, wherein the atleast one control includes at least a first control and a secondcontrol, wherein the first flat recess surface actuates the firstcontrol and the second flat recess surface actuates the second control.12. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 11, wherein first controlincludes a rotary control and the second control includes a push buttoncontrol.
 13. The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a display region, including: a screen, a cover lens and anoptical coupling there between, wherein a refractive index of theoptical coupling is approximately the same of a refractive index of thecover lens and a refractive index of the screen.
 14. The ultrasoundimaging system of claim 1, wherein the flat touchscreen panel furthercomprises a bottom, the planar surface is a first distance away from thebottom surface, the recess is a second distance away from the bottomsurface, and the first distance is greater than the second distance. 15.The ultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the planar surface,the transition and the recess are all part of a same surface.
 16. Theultrasound imaging system of claim 1, wherein the planar surface has afirst thickness, the recess has a second thickness, and the firstthickness is greater than the second thickness.
 17. A method,comprising: providing an ultrasound console; interfacing a userinterface with the ultrasound console, wherein the user interfaceincludes a planar active touch sensitive area with a transition into arecess in the planar active touch sensitive area, wherein the recess isa control configured to control a sensitive area, the transition to therecess, the recess and the control contain a same touch screen material,none of the planar active touch sensitive area, the transition to therecess, the recess or the control is a frame of a display monitor, andthe transition provides a recessed physical feature; interfacing adisplay region with the ultrasound console, wherein the display regionincludes a screen, a cover lens and an optical coupling there between,wherein a refractive index of the optical coupling is approximately thesame of a refractive index of the cover lens and a refractive index ofthe screen; interfacing a transducer probe with the ultrasound console;and using the transducer probe to scan an object or subject undercontrol of the console, wherein an operator of the system controls atleast one operation via the user interface and generated images aredisplayed via the display region.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: identifying a type of the control by the recessed physicalfeature.
 19. The method of claim 18, where the control is one of a touchpad, a rotary control and a push button.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising: actuating the control with a touch gesture on asurface of the control.